That in consequence of there being no legal provision for the establishment of schools, and for want of public attention and encouragement, this so essential part of our social duty is left to the partial patronage of individuals, whose cares do not extend beyond the limits of their own families, while numbers in every part of the state are deprived of a privilege which is the common right of every child to enjoy. That when to that respect which as individuals we feel ourselves bound to render to the representatives of the people we add our public declaration of gratitude for the privilege we enjoy as a corporate body, we at the same time solicit this Honorable Assembly to make legal provision for the establishment of free schools sufficient to educate all the children in the several towns throughout the state; with great confidence we bring this, our earnest solicitation before this Honorable Assembly, from the interest we feel in the public welfare and from the consideration that our society is composed of members not originally of any particular town, but assembled mostly in our early years from almost every town in the state. That we feel as individuals the want of that education which we now ask to be bestowed on those who are to succeed us in life, and which is so essential in directing its common concerns. That we feel a still greater degree of confidence from the consideration that while we pray this Honorable Assembly to establish free schools, we are at the same time advocating the cause of the great majority of children throughout the state, and in particular of those who are poor and destitute — the son of the widow and the child of distress. Trusting that our occupations as mechanics and manufacturers ought not to prevent us from adding to these reasons an argument which cannot fail to operate on those to whom is committed the guardianship of the public welfare, and that is, liberty and security under a republican form of government depend on a general diffusion of knowledge among the people. In confiding this petition and the reasons which have dictated it to the wisdom of the Legislature, we assure ourselves that their decision will be such as will reflect on this Honorable General Assembly the praise and the gratitude, not only of the youth of the present generation, but of thousands the date of whose existence has not commenced. Respectfully submitted by John Howland, Joel Metcalf, William Richmond, Peter Grinnell, Richard Anthony, Grindall Reynolds, Samuel Thurber, Jr., and Nathan Foster, committee. The petition was referred to a committee, which reported favorably, and the General Free School Act of 1800 was the result. Providence at once organized free schools under the Act, as did two or three other towns, but in 1803 the Act was repealed, and no further general legislation took place until 1828. 309. The Schools of Providence in 1820 (Report of the Committee for revising the School Regulations, June 20, 1820; in Centennial Report School Committee, 1899-1900, pp. 42-43) Until 1825 the schools of Providence remained almost the only schools in Rhode Island. The following documents describe the first schools established, and the regulations for their government. In 1800 a set of rules and regulations was drawn up, and in 1820 these were revised by re-wording but without materially changing their character. The 1820 regulations are reproduced below as describing the schools at a little later date, though they are substantially the same as those for 1800. Regulations for the instruction and government of the publick schools in the Town of Providence The Publick Schools are established for the general benefit of the community; And all children, of both sexes, having attained the age of six years, shall be received therein and faithfully instructed, without preference or partiality. The Instruction shall be uniform in the several schools, and shall consist of spelling, Reading, the use of Capital letters and Punctuation, Writing, English Grammar & Arithmetick. The Pronunciation shall be uniform in the several schools & the standard shall be the Critical Pronouncing Dictionary of John Walker. The following Books, and none others, shall be used in the several schools, viz: Alden's Spelling Book, first & second part, New Testament, American Preceptor, Murray's Sequel to the English Reader, Murray's Abridgement of English Grammar and Dabols Arithmetick. The scholars shall be put in separate classes according to their several improvements, each sex by itself. The Schools are statedly to begin and end as follows: From the first Monday in October to the first Monday in May to begin at 9 o'clock A.M. and end at 12 ock. M.: and half past one ock P.M. & end at hali past four ock. P.M. From the first Monday in May to the first Monday in October, to begin at 8 ock. A.M. & end at 11 ock A.M.; And at 2 ock. P.M. and end at 5 ock P.M. The Scholars shall be excused from attending the schools on Saturdays, on Christmas day, on the 4th day of July, on public Fasts and Thanksgiving, on the last Monday in April, on the day of Regimental Training; on the day succeeding each quarterly visitation and during the whole of Commencement Week. But on no other days shall the Preceptors dismiss the Schools without permission obtained from the Town Council. As Discipline and Good Government are absolutely necessary to im provement it is indispensible that the scholars should implicitly obey the Regulations of the Schools. The good morals of the Youth being essential to their own comfort & to their progress in useful knowledge, they are strictly enjoined to avoid idleness and profaneness, falsehood and deceitfulness, and every other wicked & disgraceful practice; and to conduct themselves in a sober, orderly & decent manner both in & out of school. If any scholar should prove disobedient & refractory, after all reasonable means used by the Preceptor to bring him or her to a just sense of duty, such offender shall be suspended from attendance & instruction in any School, until the next visitation of the committee. Each Scholar shall be punctual in attendance at the appointed hour and be as constant as possible in daily attendance and all excuses for absence shall be by note, from the Parent or Guardian of the scholar. It shall be the duty of the Preceptors to report at each quarterly visitation the names of those scholars who have been grossly negligent in attending School or inattentive to their Studies. It is recommended to the Preceptors, as far as practicable, to exclude corporal punishment from the schools, and particularly that they never permit it to be inflicted by their ushers in their presence, or at any time by a scholar. That they inculcate upon the scholars the necessity of good behaviour during their absence from school. That they endeavor to convince the children by their treatment that they feel a parental affection for them, and never make dismission from school at an early hour a reward for good conduct or diligence, but endeavor to teach the scholars to consider being at school as a privilege & dismission from it as a punishment. That they endeavor to impress on the minds of the scholars a sense of the Being & Providence of God & their obligations to love & reverence Him, their duty to their parents & preceptors, the beauty & excellency of truth, justice & mutual love, tenderness to brute creatures, the happy tendency of self government and obedience to the dictates of reason & religion; the observance of the Sabbath as a sacred institution, the duty which they owe to their country & the necessity of a strict obedience to its Laws, and that they caution them against the prevailing vices. 310. A Memorial for Better Schools (Centennial Report School Committee, Providence, R.I., 1899-1900, pp. 55-56) The "Providence Association of Mechanics and Manufacturers," to which belongs the credit for starting the schools in Providence by petitioning the Legislature (R. 308), in 1799, “praying for the establishment of free schools throughout the State," sent the following resolutions to the City Council, in 1837. The Council at that time was also the School Committee or Board of Education for the city. TO THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE: The undersigned, in behalf of the Providence Association of Mechanics and Manufacturers, respectfully represent: That At a meeting of the Association, held on Monday evening, January 30, 1837, the accompanying resolutions were unanimously adopted: RESOLVED, That no subject can be of more importance to the inhabitants of this city, than the education of the rising generation. RESOLVED, That as the members of this association were the pioneers in the establishment of the public schools, they manifested a most laudable zeal on that subject. RESOLVED, That the public schools of this city come far short of the wants of the community, and are much inferior in their character to the public schools in neighboring cities. RESOLVED, That the public schools can and ought to be made equal to the private schools, so far as relates to the common branches now taught. RESOLVED, That two of the greatest evils now existing, as respects public school instruction are the great number of scholars in each school, and the small salaries paid to the teachers. RESOLVED, That an increased number of public schools ought to be established in this city as soon as practicable. RESOLVED, That a committee be appointed to draft a memorial to the City Council, on the subject of public schools, in conformity with the recommendation of the Select Committee, to report at an adjourned meeting, to be held on Saturday evening next. Accompanying the above resolutions was a Memorial, from which the following statistical statement is taken: In evidence of these statements, it is found that the number attending public schools in this city, in 1836, was . Private schools. .. Attending no school. Amount actually paid for public schools from June, 1835, to June, 1836, by the City Total cost for schools. . . . Amount paid for private school instruction, over Number attending public schools in Boston in 1836. Number attending private schools.. Amount paid for public schools Amount paid for private schools... 1,456 3,235 1,604 $5,936.34 7,461.99 $20,000.00 8,847 4,000 $88,000.00 100,000.00 There are about 50 per cent more attending private-school instruction than public, in this city; while in Boston, three fifths of the whole number, 12,848, are attending the public schools. Boston, containing a population of about 80,000, pays $88,000; and Providence, whose population is about 20,000, pays $7,461. Should Providence pay $22,000, instead of the sum above stated, her public schools might then be equal in standing, and perhaps nearly adequate to the actual wants of the community. 311. The Beginnings of Public Education in New York City ("Address" published in New York City papers of May, 1805. Reproduced in Bourne, Wm. O., History of the Public School Society of the City of New York. New York, 1870) In 1800 New York City had a population of 60,489, but no school facilities other than those provided by private and church schools. In February, 1805, a body of public-spirited citizens formed an Association, and applied to the legislature for a charter to establish a School Society. The legislature approved the request and chartered the Society, under the name given in the following "Address" to the Public. To secure funds to erect the first building the Society issued this appeal, asking for subscriptions. The "Address" states well the conditions existing at the time, and reveals the philanthropic origin of the society and of the public schools. TO THE PUBLIC Address of the Trustees of the "Society for Establishing a Free School in the City of New York, for the Education of such Poor Children as do not Belong to, or are not Provided for by, any Religious Society." While the various religious and benevolent societies in this city, with a spirit of charity and zeal which the precepts and example of the Divine Author of our religion could alone inspire, amply provide for the education of such poor children as belong to their respective associations, there still remains a large number living in total neglect of religious and moral instruction, and unacquainted with the common rudiments of learning, essentially requisite for the due management of the ordinary business of life. This neglect may be imputed either to the extreme indigence of the parents of such children, their intemperance and vice, or to a blind indifference to the best interests of their offspring. The consequences must be obvious to the most careless observer. Children thus brought up in ignorance, and amidst the contagion of bad example, are in imminent danger of ruin; and too many of them, it is to be feared, instead of being useful members of the commun |